Apple Blossom Day Nursery
GoodBirth to 8+Long established
A day nursery in Hexham for children from birth to 8+, open 07:30 to 18:00, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in October 2022. Open since 2019, with 30 places.
What you might pay
This setting does not publish its fees, and no national dataset holds them. This is what childcare costs across the council, as a starting point for the call.
What childcare usually costs in Northumberland
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Northumberland from the Department for Education's 2025 provider survey. No national data holds what an individual nursery charges, so ring and ask.
Places, hours and the day
Who they take, when they are open, and what a day there includes.
Where it is
NE46 3PUWhat the inspector found
One grade is one visit. A run of them tells you whether it has been good for years or has only just got there.
Ofsted inspector, 5 October 2022 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children settle quickly and are very happy in this friendly nursery. Staff are enthusiastic and caring. They ensure that children form secure relationships with their key persons. Children develop a strong sense of belonging. Babies and toddlers are keen to explore the improved environment and enjoy making choices about what they would like to do. For example, they are fully supported as they use chalks to make marks on giant paper. Babies happily explore the sandpit or a tray of shredded paper to find hidden 'treasures'.
Children learn to be friendly and well mannered as they follow the positive example set by staff. Staff focus on developing children's social interactions as they play together. For instance, older children talk about sharing and waiting their turn to use a slide. They share different shape cutters as they create with dough and learn to wait in a 'smart line' to wash their hands before snack. Children have positive attitudes to their learning. They are prepared to persist at tasks which they have chosen for themselves. For example, older children persevere to write the letters in their name, hunt for bugs in the garden and create smiley faces out of cereal.
Younger children enjoy exploring a variety of rose petals and materials to make potions. During these times, staff skilfully expand on children's learning in several areas, using good questioning skills. This helps to reward children's curiosity and ideas.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- strengthen links with other settings and local schools to consistently share information about children's learning, development and well-being to support continuity - extend opportunities for children to enjoy a wide variety of activities in all areas of learning, particularly for younger children who prefer to learn outdoors.
- 5 October 2022Good
- 14 October 2021Needs improvement
Rated Good or Outstanding at 1 of the last 2 graded inspections.
Still missing for Apple Blossom Day Nursery
- What it costs
- Funded hours
- Youngest age taken
- Meals
- Nappies
- Waiting list
No dataset holds any of this. Two parents telling us the same thing puts it on the page for whoever looks next.
What to ask them
None of this is in any national dataset and this setting has not published it, which is exactly why it is worth asking.
- What does it cost, all in? What is on top: meals, nappies, late pick-up, and what happens if you are late.
- Can I use my funded hours here? Whether they stretch them over the year, and the minimum days you have to book.
- Is there a place for my child's age? Baby rooms fill first and waiting lists are common.
- Who would my child's key person be? And how long have the staff been there. No dataset holds this and it matters more than anything above.
- Can I visit at a busy time? Mid-morning on a weekday tells you far more than an empty room after hours.
Day nurseries within a couple of miles
This one is first. Tick it and one or two others to see them side by side.